I’m not even going to write an intro. I just want to jump right into this. First, what I liked:

- Zaeruapollo EATING LUMINA TO HEAL HIS WOUNDS. Those 3 pages (8, 9 and 10) single-handedly lifted this chapter above its otherwise ho-hum status. Before, Apollo was one of my favorite Espada—now, he’s my absolute favorite villain in the series.
- Renji and Ishida’s reaction to the act. Their expressions were priceless.
- Seeing how fucked up Apollo was after getting hit by Sprenger was quite satisfying, after all of his trash talk. I think he was much cooler looking when burned, for some reason.
- Nell’s reaction when she saw Ichigo was heart wrenching. It was a powerful scene, to say the least.
- The very last page was awesome. Not at the level of page 16 in chapter 432 of One Piece, but it was still amazing.

Now, what I didn’t like:

- Kubo took the most generic route with Grimmjow and Orihime. I want to see what’ll happen next, but at this point I can just guess at it now. So I’m not all that excited.
- Why the fuck did Zaeruapollo have to leave? That means we’re going to be stuck with this match for God knows how much longer. He should’ve just released after he ate Lumina, so we could get this over with in a week or 2 and move on.
- I am NOT satisfied with Ishida’s explanation of how Sprenger worked. I still think it shouldn’t have been possible if Seelen Schneider was sealed, because Kubo didn’t convince me otherwise.
- This chapter continued the slow progression pattern we’ve been in for weeks.

In short, this chapter had some incredible scenes, but it wasn’t much better than the last few. I’m tired of saying over and over that I hate how Kubo is handling this arc, and how he’s pussyfooting around the subplots I want him to address. But if he keeps doing it, then I have to call him on it.

Rating – 3.5 out of 5 (Good)

yanniv

May 26, 2007, 01:12 PM

I think this chapter was a major step up from the last few chapters we have gotten. It only looks better from here on out.

On another note, what do you think the announcement is about?

juUnior

May 26, 2007, 01:17 PM

Good review, as always, Gigantor :D

I too, have the same thinking about Apollo, his just awfuly great :D I was expecting, that he will be having regeneration abilities like Mayuri had (he fix his hand, liquid stuff), but i think that in Apollo case it's just brutal xD

conan

May 26, 2007, 01:37 PM

276. Blookin’ Beast

- Why the fuck did Zaeruapollo have to leave? That means we’re going to be stuck with this match for God knows how much longer. He should’ve just released after he ate Lumina

well the answer to that is in the chapter, its becuase,zyaerpollo is MESSED UP IN THE HEAD, the guys crazy, he is absolutely out of his mind.

Quartz-pebble

May 26, 2007, 09:44 PM

Great review as always. Again, I'll have to agree with you on most points, and yeah, Apollo's 100% my favorite now. There were a few nice twists all around.

I'm going to have to read it again, because I don't think I understand exactly how Sprenger worked.

Also, by this point, the rest of the story is basically dead-still. When was the last time the plot moved, when Ichigo got stabbed?

ShinobiWrath

May 26, 2007, 10:06 PM

I Think I speak for everyone when i say Szayel has heightened our expectations from him. He has come from typical mad scientist to Hardcore head eater! The chapter in all won my respect in spite of the long, dull lie about how Szayel was going to go modify their reiatsu yet again to have the edge in the next battle. The Grimmjow bit was kinda disturbing as well, knowing him he would have simply killed a weakling like Nell just on impulse. I'm really eager to see what's gonna happen.

gigantor21

May 26, 2007, 10:59 PM

Thanks for the feedback, everyone.

Yanniv - I actually made a thread for it in the Biblioteca, because I can't think of anything that would need a pre-announcement two weeks early. Here's (http://www.mangahelpers.com/forums/showthread.php?t=13029) the link.

On the chapter, it was definitely more entertaining, but it still had all the problems that the last few had. So I just couldn't rate it above a 4, and I don't think it even deserved that.

Conan - Exactly.

Quartz - The pacing of the story recently is what has gotten to me the most. I really want Kubo to pick up the pace, but the fact that I haven't liked this fight makes me wonder if he should.